Viscera inspection unit



Dec. 30, 1952 J. A. sLuss VISCERA INSPECTION UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJuly lO, 1950 INVENTOR. :,/me/Q 5556.553 Y ATTORNEYS Dec. 30, 1952 J. A.sLuss vIscERA INSPECTION UNIT 5 Sheet's-Sheet 3 Filed July 1o, 195o zoINVENTOR. c/m es :4. 57mg@ e my m4/f.

f ATT RN EYE Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vIsCItAINSPECTION UNIT James A. slugs, Bristol, vai Appiicauon .uiy 10, 1950,seria-1 No. 172,909

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to inspection having trays or pans used'forinspection of visoera of hogs, calves, sheep and lambs, and inparticular a revolving pan journaled in the upper end of a stand with asterilzing spray unit positioned below the pan and wherein the pan ismounted for swinging to a position of substantially 45 degrees wherebythe viscera is discharged through an opening` in the side of the hopperand over an apron to an outside' container without handling the visceraby hand.

The purpose of this invention is to` provide a viscera inspection unitin which a 'double pan is pvotally mounted'in the upper end of a stand'to facilitate inspection of the viscera and in which the parts are soarranged that vthe viscera may be removed land discharged withouthandling.

In the conventional inspection unit for viscere and' the like where aplurality of pans' arel used it isv necessary to remove the viscera fromthe pans by hand and the pans are removed and sterilized in separateunits. This requires a plurality of different operations and is notsatisfactory as it is' objectionable toA rem'ove the condemned visceraby hand. With this thought in mind this in-l vention contemplates adouble pan mounted to revolve in thel upper end of a stand whereinduring the inspection of the viscera on one pan the other is sterilizedand wherein thev pan mayv read-'- ily be adjusted to such an angle thatlthe viscer'a may slide therefrom withouthandling the viscera by hand.`

The object ofthis invention is, therefore, to provide means forconstructing. a stand particularly adapted for inspecting viscera inwhich it is not necessary to handle the viscera` by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide viscera inspection' unitshaving a'v double pan mounted to revolve in the upper end: thereof inwhich a pan in one side is sterilized as viscera is inspected in apan inthe other' side.

A further objectv of the invention is to provide an improved viscerainspection unit which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects-and advantages in view the inventionembodies a rectangular shaped pan having a tray with pans in bothsurfaces thereof journaled in the upper end of the stand with a hopperhaving a sloping bottom positioned in the stand and with a spray unitpositioned in the hopper, and wherein the parts are arranged so that thepan is adjustable to an inclined discharge position with the lower edgecoacting with an apron across which the viscera is' discharged toanoutside container.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the complete unit.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the unit.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the unit taken on line 3-3 ofFigure l.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the unit looking toward thedischarge apron.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan through the lower part of the unit taken online 5-25 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on' line 6;2 of Figure 4 showingthe pan inthe discharging position in dotted lines'.

Figure 'l is a detail showing a section on an enlarged scale takensubstantially on line 3'-3 of Figure 1 at one side of the unit andillustrating the pivotal mounting of the double pan.

Figure 8 is a detail showing aA section on line 8 8 of Figure 3 throughthe bearing at one end of the pan.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the viscera inspection unit of this invention in- .1cludes a pan having abottom l0 in a hopper Il with a spray unit l2 andal discharge apron i3, and the parts are suspended in a stand having arectangular shaped frame formed with a continuous angle bar f4 at theupper end supported by corner posts l5', I6. l1 and |81.

The posts are provided with adjustable leg sections I9. 20. 2| and 22which are attached to the lower ends of the posts by bolts 2'3 in clongated slots 24. Each leg sectionis` provided with a base plate asindicated by the numeral 25.r

The pan' is formed as shown indetailirr Fig ures 3 and 6 with the'bottom 0` positioned mid-1 way ofchannel shaped side members 2`6 and 21,and similarly shaped end members 28V and 29 and' inclined plates 30 and3lV are provided in the sldesV to facilita-tesliding viscera from thepan to the apron I3 with the pan in the position shown 1n dotted linesas shown in Figure 6.

The ends of thel panA areA provided with tubular stub shafts 32 and 33that are positionedv in U- shaped bearing elements 34 and 35,respectively positioned on the' inner surfaces of end plates 36 and lofthe hopperl Il' and with the pan mounted in this manner it maybe rotatedon the shafts as illustrated in Figure 6 wherein, as shown by the dottedlines the viscera slides from the bottom l0 over the inclined plate 30to a flange 38 of the apron I3, the apron being held in position by anangle 39 positioned over the inner edge 4U from a door opening 4l in theupper partV ofthe end plate 42. The apron is also suspended by braces 43the lower ends of which are freely slidable in sockets 44 on the outersurface of the hopper.

A dooi' 45 is positioned in the door opening 4|, and as illustrated inFigures 4 and 6 the door is pivotally mounted by hinges 46, 4l and 48wheren by as the viscera slides against the inner surface of the doorthe door opens outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure6 and the viscera slides over the apron and into a container.

A Wall 49 is provided at the opposite side of the hopper and asillustrated in the enlarged scale detail in Figure 7 the upper edges ofthe side and end walls bend inwardly with sloping sections 50 extendingoutwardly over the inner edges of the horizontal flanges of the angleI4, across the upper surfaces of the flanges with sections I, downwardlyover the outer faces of the vertical anges of the angles with sections52, and then under the edges of the flanges with arcuate edges 53. Withthe side and end plates formed in this manner the angle iron frame issubstantially covered.

The upper end of the hopper is provided with a sliding bar 54 that isprovided with sloping slots 55 and 5B and with screws 5l and 58,respectively extended through the slots. The bar may be moved outwardly,to the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 to hold the pan in position asthe viscera is being inspected and when it is desired to tilt the panfor discharging the viscera therefrom the bar 54 is moved outwardlyuntil the inner edge passes over the edge of the flange of the channel28.

The ends of the apron I3 are provided with outwardly sloping flanges 59and 60 and with the apron held in position by the angle 39 and socket 44the apron may readily be removed for cleaning and sterilizing.

The spray head I2 which is formed of perforated tubes, assembled to forma rectangle is positioned on transversely disposed channels 6| and 62and the supply end of the header is provided with a connection 63 thatextends through the Wall 35 and upwardly through a channel 64 to asource of supply through a pipe 65. The supply connection 63 is alsoprovided with a supply pipe 66 and the pipes 65 and 66 are provided withquick acting valves 61 and 68, respectively.

With one of the pipes 65 and 66 connected to a supply of cold water andthe other to a supply of hot water the pan may readily be sprayed withhot water and then cold water whereby it may first be sterilized andthen cooled for use.

The pipes 65 and 6G are connected to a corner of the frame by U-bolts 69and IU in a vertical clip angle ll and the angle ll is supported fromthe frame by transversely disposed angles l2 and '13. It will beunderstood that the pipes may be supported by any suitable means.

The holding bar 54 is provided with a ilange 'i4 at one end by which itmay be actuated to hold or release the pan and the bar may be freelymounted or it may be secured in the holding position by the screws 5land 58.

The hopper Il is provided with a drain connection l5 that may extend toany suitable point.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design andarrangement of the parts Without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. An inspection stand comprising a rectangular shaped frame, a hopperhaving a drain conlit nection in the bottom suspended in the frame, saidhopper having an opening extended across the upper part of one side, apivotally mounted door swingably positioned in said opening, and a panhaving a bottom with extended side members pivotally mounted in theupper part of said hopper and positioned whereby with the pan in aninclined position products therein slide through the opening in the sideof the hopper.

z. nn inspection stand comprising a rectanguiar snaped frame, a hopperhaving a drain connection in the bottom suspended in the frame, saidhopper having an opening extended across the upper part ol one side, apivotaiiy mounted door swingably positioned in said opening, a panhaving a bottom with extended side inembers pivot-any mounted in theupper part oi said hopper and positioned whereby with the pan in anincinied position products therein slide through the opening in the sideoi the hopperl and a spray head positioned ih the lower part of thehopper ior spraying the underside or the pall Wltll line palllioilziolltailly disposed lIl H16 upper end oi the hopper.

s. nn inspection stand comprising a rectanguiar shaped iranie, a hopperhaving a drain colllleotioll lll. Elle botliOIIl suspended 1n lilleIlaiille,

said hopper having an opening extended across the upper part oi oneside, a pivot-any inodhted door swingabiy positioned in said opening, apan having a bottoin with extended side members pivotally mounted in theupper part or' said nopper and positioned whereby with the pan in aninciined position products therein slide through the opening in the sideof the hopper, a spray head positioned in the lower part oi: the hopperior spraying the under side of the pan with the pan horizontallydisposed in the upper end of the hopper, and an apron freely mounted onthe hopper and positioned through the opening in the side tliereoi Iorreceiving products irom the pan.

4. nn inspection stand comprising a rectangular shaped frame, a hopperhaving a drain connection in the bottom suspended in the frame, saidhopper having an opening extended across the upper part oI one side, apivotally mounted door swingably positioned in said opening, a panhaving a bottom with extended side members pivotally mounted in theupper part of said hopper and positioned whereby with the pan in aninclined position products therein slide through the opening in the sideof the hopper, a spray head positioned in the lower part of the hopperfor spraying the under side of the pan with the pan horizontallydisposed in the upper end of the hopper, an apron freely mounted on thehopper and positioned through the opening in the side thereof forreceiving products from the pan, and a closing bar slidably mounted onthe upper end of the stand for retaining the pan in a horizontalposition in the upper end of the hopper.

5. An inspection stand comprising a rectangular shaped frame, a hopperhaving a drain connection in the bottom suspended in the frame, saidhopper having an opening extended across the upper part of one side, apivotally mounted door swingably positioned in said opening, a panhaving a bottom with extended side members pivotally mounted in theupper part of said hopper, said pan having beveled surfaces inoppositely positioned corners with the beveled surfaces positioned tocoact with the lower end of the opening in the side of the hopper, aninclined apron removably mounted in the hopper and positioned in thelower part of the said opening in lthe side of the hopper, and a sprayhead positioned in the lower part of the hopper for spraying the underside of the pan with the pan horizontally disposed in the upper end ofthe hopper.

6. In a viscera inspection unit, the combination which comprises arectangular shaped frame having corner posts with a continuous angleiron frame around the upper end, a hopper positioned between the cornerposts and having side and end walls the upper edges of which extend overthe angle iron frame, said hopper having a drain opening in the lowerend and having an opening extended across the upper part of one side, aswingable door positioned to cover the said opening in the side of thehopper, a tray having a bottom with extended side members pivotallymounted in the upper end of the hoppei` the opposite edges of said trayhaving beveled surfaces therein, an apron freely mounted in the openingin the side of the hopper and having a flange extended into the hopperand positioned to coact with the beveled surfaces of the tray wherebywith the tray in an inclined position products therein slide across thebeveled surfaces and on to the said apron,

a spray head positioned in the hopper for spraying cold water and hotwater selectively against surfaces of the tray, and means temporarilyretaining the tray with one side thereof in a horizontal position in theupper end of the hopper.

7. In a viscera inspection unit, the combination which comprises arectangular shaped frame having corner posts with a continuous angleiron frame around the upper end, a hopper positioned between the cornerposts and having side and end walls the upper edges of which extend overthe angle iron frame, said hopper having a drain opening in the lowerend and having an opening extended across the upper part of one side, aswingable door positioned to cover the said opening in the side of thehopper, a tray having a bottom with extended side members pivotallymounted in the upper end of the hopper the opposite edges of said trayhaving beveled surfaces therein, an apron freely mounted in the openingin the side of the hopper and having a flange extended into the hopperand positioned to coact with the beveled surfaces of the tray wherebywith the tray in inclined positions products therein slide across thebeveled surfaces and onto the said apron, a spray head positioned in thehopper for spraying cold water and hot water selectively against theunder surface of the tray, means temporarily retaining the tray with oneside thereof in a horizontal position in the upper end of the hopper,and means adjusting the height of the stand.

JAMES A. SLUSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 335,940 Livingston Feb. 9, 1886858,163 Druzbach June 25, 1907 1,531,060 Allbright Mar. 24, 19252,084,711 Smith June 22, 1937 2,492,387 Lundell Dec. 27, 1949

